Page 101 of The Don's Soulmate

"Have there been any new developments?" Ettore finally asks.

My jaw tightens. "Carlotta’s father's men are still scouring the city for us. Ugo is, too."

Carlotta shudders, one hand protectively covering her belly.

"If they ever find out you're helping us, Sofia," Ettore adds grimly. "You'll be punished severely if discovered."

My breath catches but I lift my chin. "I knew the risks. You'd do the same for me."

Ettore studies me, his ice blue eyes unreadable. But I know I’ve won his loyalty for life.

"We're so grateful, Sofia." Carlotta squeezes my hand, her green eyes glistening. "I don't know what we'd do without you."

I manage a smile despite the unease twisting my stomach. "That's what friends are for. I'll always be here for you, both of you."

Ettore turns away, his broad shoulders tensed. Carlotta leans into me, her belly pressing against my side. For now, we have each other. No matter what, I won't abandon them.

A sudden explosion shatters the window behind us. Carlotta screams as glass rains over us. Ettore whips around, shock etched on his stony face. My heart pounds wildly.

I throw my body over Carlotta, shielding her protruding belly from the shattering glass. She trembles against me, letting out frightened whimpers.

"Get down!" Ettore barks.

We huddle on the floor as more bullets pierce the cottage, splintering the furniture. Ettore crawls to the window, cautiously peering out.

"I can’t see anyone," he reports tersely.

My mind races. How many men are there? Where are they hiding? How did they find us way out here? What do we do now? “I thought I wasn’t followed,” I whisper.

Carlotta grips my hand, her nails digging into my skin. "The baby...we have to get out of here," she cries.

Chapter 49

Ettore

A shattering of glass and the unmistakable sound of a bullet piercing through the air force me into action. My heart thuds in my chest, anger and adrenaline pumping through my veins as I quickly assess the situation. There’s no one outside - where are the bullets coming from?

When I let them know we’re fighting against someone in the dark, Carlotta's eyes widen with fear, and Sofia's grip on her arm tightens.

"Carlotta, Sofia, get behind the couch now!" I bark, the urgency drifting words out faster than I can think them. They obey without question, trembling forms disappearing. "Stay there and don't make a sound."

I stride towards the door, every muscle in my body tense, prepared for whatever awaits me on the other side. The darkness is thick, but my senses are heightened.

"Show yourself, you coward," I mutter under my breath, scanning the area for any movement or glint of metal. Moonlight filters through the trees, casting eerie shadows that confuse the hell out of me, making me see things that don’t exist. My mind races, trying to piece together who our attacker might be.

The wind howls around me, taunting me as I search for the attacker. I find no trace of him or them in the immediate vicinity. My frustration mounts, my anger threatening to boil over. Then, I spot something—a pair of single tracks leading away from the scene, disappearing into the depths of the forest. I study the prints, memories of hunting from a previous life fresh in my mind. Large boots, a man. Built over six feet. Strong. Capable.

Well, at least it’s only one person.

"Got you," I growl under my breath. I follow the tracks with razor-sharp senses, focused on a singular objective – to hunt down this intruder and make him regret ever shooting in the direction of my soulmate, the mother of my soon-to-be-born child.

I delve deeper into the forest, the tendrils of the branches reaching out like ghostly fingers, hitting against my face. I wince at every rustle of leaves and snap of twigs beneath my feet. I must move slower, quieter.

The tracks become more distinct, my prey unaware that I’ve come to hunt. I clench my fists, the cold night air biting at my knuckles, but I barely feel it.

I feel a sudden shift in the air, a prickling sensation at the back of my neck. There. A snapping twig ahead, the sharp report of sound in this quiet place. I freeze in place, peering into the gloom and know I've found him.

Gotcha!I spot the silhouette of the attacker lurking behind a tree. He's watching the hut from afar, a sinister smirk plastered on his face.

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